Fountain pen



R. BODER FOUNTAIN PEN Feb. 13, 1.951

Filed Dec. 10, 1947 m k c c f Patented Feb. 13, 1951 FOUNTAIN PEN Robert Boder, Zurich-Oerlikon, Switzerland Application December 10, 1947, Serial No. 790,762 In Sweden December 10, 1946 Claims.

The present invention relates to fountain pens.

Fountain pens are already known which have two pen systems each of which is provided with a separate ink reservoir and filling mechanism and which are arranged so as to be axially displaceable in a casing which is open in front. By rotating a sleeve, one pen system is pushed forward into the working position and the other pen system is pushed correspondingly further rearwards into the casing. The two pen systems move simultaneously and this construction requires the casing to be made longer than is really necessary because one pen system moves forward whilst the other, at the same time, moves backwards from a neutral position. Since one and the same member, namely the rotatable sleeve, is employed for putting one pen system or the other into the working position, it frequently happens that the two pen systems, which mostly contain different inks, are confused. This disadvantage is avoided by the present invention.

The subject matter of the present invention is a fountain pen having at least two pen systems which can be brought selectively into the work-` ing position and are each provided with a separate ink reservoir and filling mechanism and which are arranged so as to be axially displaceable in a casing that is open in front. In this casing, each of the pen systems is held in an inactive position by spring action and connected with abolt which pushes the respective system into its active position. A stop device is provided which is common to all the pen systems and by means of which a pen system which has been pushed into the position of use is stopped against the action of the spring acting upon this pen system. There is further provided for the operation of the lling mechanisms of the ink reservoirs of the pen systems, a common operating device which is adjustable for each pen system and movable into a neutral position, the lling mechanisms and their operating device being so constructed that the operating device can act only upon the filling mechanism of a pen system which is moved completely in the position of use.

In this fountain pen the different pen systems are moved singly and, since each of them possesses its own operating member, a confusion of the pen systems is entirely impossible and the length of the casing is limited to a minimum. Means may be provided whereby a pen system, which has been brought into the position of use, is xed in this position. It is of special advantage that the operating device for the filling mechanisms of the ink reservoirs can be adjusted for the filling mechanism of the ink reservoir of the pen system only which has been brought completely in the position of use, thereby preventing blotting.

The subject matter of the invention differs also from the known fountain pens with two pen systems in which the pen systems are moved by a rotatable sleeve, one pen system being moved forward whilst the other is moved backwards, by the fact that not only two but three or even four pen systems may be provided.

An embodiment of the subject matter of the invention is represented by way of example on the accompanying drawings, of which Fig. l is an axial section through a fountain pen with two pen systems which can be brought selectively into the working position and each of which is provided with a separate ink reservoir, the fountain pen being shown in a position in which one pen system is in the working position;

Fig. 2 is a part of an axial section through this fountain pen in a position in which the ink reservoir of one pen system is to be filled;

Figs. 3 and 4 show one of the springs in front and side elevation respectively;

Fig. 5 is an axial section through the rear end of this fountain pen in another position;

Fig. 6 shows the setting of the operating device of the lling mechanism, in accordance with Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 shows the setting of the operating device of the filling mechanism, in accordance with Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 shows the setting of the operating device of the filling mechanism, in accordance with Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a section through a detail;

Fig. 10 is a section on the line llll0 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 11 is a section on the line l l-l i of Fig. 1;

Fig. 12 is a section on the line l2-I2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 13 is a plan View of the filling mechanism of a pen system.

With the illustrated fountain pen, the two pen systems` can be brought selectively into the working position and each `of which is provided with a separate ink reservoir. Each of these two pen systems has a body l of semicircular crosssection which has a cavity 2 that is intended for receiving the ink reservoir 3 which consists of a rubber sack. This ink reservoir 3 is connected in from; to a nib holder ii which has aY passage through which the ink is led to the nib. In the part of the body I which lies behind the cavity 2,

there is provided a bore which extends in the axial direction and in which a filling pin 5 is dsplaceably guided. An opening in the body l is intended for the reception of a bolt 6 of the plate which serves for moving the pen system. On the body I, there is arranged a guide piece 'I which serves for guiding the rear part projecting from the body I, of the lling pin 5, and for receiving and bearing against a compression spring 8, as well as a carrier for the abutment 9 for the return spring I6. which is represented in Figs. 3 and 4 in side and front elevation, has a semi-circular prole. A locking sleeve l2, which surrounds the two pen systems and which has, at its rear end, two opposite slots I3 in the manner of a bayonet catch, is kept in its position by a spring I4'. The slots I3 of this locking sleeve I2 co-operate with the bolt t of one pen system or with the bolt 6a cf the other pen system. If one of the pen systems is pushed into the position of use, the corresponding bolt 5 or @a is moved in a groove IT or I'I'a, which is arranged for this purpose in the casing of the fountain pen and extends in the axial direction. The respective bolt enters one of the two slots I3 of the locking sleeve I2. A part I5 of the slots i3, which extends obliquely in the axial direction, causes the locking sleeve i2 to be rotated in opposition to the action of the spring i4 when the bolt E or Ea is pushed into one of these slots I3'. When the pen system, which is moved forward by means of the bolt 3 or 5a, reaches the position of use, the bolt 6 or Sa enters an enlarged portion of the corresponding slotl I3 and the locking sleeve I2 is rotated back under the action of the spring I4. As a result, the bolts S or Eu abut slightly inclined shoulders I5, so that the respective bolt and, with it, the corresponding pen system are kept in this position. If this pen system is to be brought back into the casing from the position of use, a slight rotation in the opposite direction is imparted to the locking sleeve I2 by means of a knob I2 mounted thereon which lies in a transverse slot in the casing, with the result that the bolt 5 or 5a is released by the shoulder i6, so that the pen system, which was, until then, located 1 in the position of use, is ldrawn back into the casing under the action of.v the return spring Il) or Ita.

For flattening the ink reservoir 3 for the purpose of lling it, there is provided for each pen system a strip I 8 which is movably connected, at the point 26, with a at spring I9, the front end of which is held in the nib carrier 4. The end 2| of the lling pin 5, on being pushed towards the nib, strikes an inclined tongue 22 on the rear end of the flat spring I, so that the latter is swung out of its position, as shown in Fig. 2. The strip I8, which is movably arranged on the flat spring I9 at the point 2B, uniformly attens the ink reservoir 3 over its whole length. The movement of the lling pin 5 back into its initial position permits the dat spring i9, with the strip I8 movably attached thereto, to be likewise returned to its initial position, the rubber sack, which forms the ink reservoir 3, and to which no external pressure is now applied, againY resumes its normal semi-circular shape, thus sucksv up ink in accordance with its capacity. The filling pin 5 of each of the two pen systems is kept in its position of rest by the compressing spring 8, which bears, at one end, on the guide piece 'I and, at the other end, on a dog 24 on the filling pin 5. The displacement of the filling pin 5 is This return spring, Y

eifected through a Wing 25 which is mounted on a pressing shank 26. The pressing shank 26 is kept in its position of rest by a compression spring 21 which is supported on a bearing bushing 28 that is inserted in the tubular part 29 of the fountain pen and acts upon a pusher 30 which is rigidly connected with the pressing shank 26 by a square head 3I and a nut 32. A stop 33, which is mounted on the pressing shank 26 and cooperates with the bearing bushing 28, determines the position of rest of the pressing shank 26 together with the Ipusher 30.

The pressing shank 25 with the pusher 30 is rotatably mounted. Fixed to the pusher 30 is a pin 34 (Figs. 2 and 5) which is so arranged and dimensioned that itl can enter one of two apertures 35 which are provided opposite to each other in the bearing bush 28. According to whether the pusher is rotated into such a position that the pin 34 can enter one or other of the two apertures4 35', the ink reservoir 3 of one or the other pen system can be -lled by operating this pusher 30, byy virtue of the fact that, in this way, the wing 25 that is mounted on the pressing shank 25 is brought intoV such a position that it acts upon the filling pin 5 of the corresponding pen system, the` ink reservoir of which is to belled. In Figs. 6", '7 and 8' there are illustrated the three positions which the pusher 30' or the wing 25 of the press-ing shank 2S occupies when the lli'ng mechanism can function for onev or the otherl pen system or' islocated in a neutral intermediate position. However, this is possible only if the pensys-temY concernedv has previously been pushed out completely into the posi-tion of use. When the pusher SilIk is set in accordance with Fig. 8, the wing 25 of the pressing shank 26 lies in a space 35 betweenV the twol pensystems without hindering theirv displacement. tion, the pusher 30 cannot` be pushed in, since the pin 34 meets the bearing bush 28. After the lling of' the ink reservoir 3 of a pen system, the pusher 3o is, by the compression spring 2, one end of which is fastened to the bearing bush 28 and the other end tothe pusher 32, not only pressed back but also rotated back into its neutral posi-tionrepresented in Fig. 8, with the result that the wing 25y of the pressing shank 26 is likewise rotated back into the space 36.

With' appropriate construction, the fountain pen may` contain three or evenfour pen systems instead of the exemplied two systems.

What I" claim is:

1. In a fountan pen comprising at least' two` pen systems for operation with separate ink reservoirs, incombination acasing open at the writing end housing the pen systems, said pen systems being mounted' axially dispiaceably in said casing, each system including av member forming a nib holder at the forward writing end of the fountain' pen and having a cavity therein for the reception of' an ink sack, anY ink sack in4 said cavity saidV nib holder having a passage communicating withv said cavi-ty' and ink in said sack, a flat spring within the cas-"ng, one end of said spring being bent up,A a stri-p movably fastened to said spring and'- positioned alongside said ink sack placed in said! cavity for compressing the said sackin response to pressure upon said bent-up spring end, a filling pinassociated With each ink sack, each of said pins cooperating with said bent-up spring end' and mounted axiaily displaceably in av portion ofthe respective member positioned on the rear end sideY of said cavity,- a dog Within the casing arranged at the In this posirear part' of each filling pin, a guide element Within the casing mounted at the rear end of each member, compression spring means acting on said dogs and bearing on said members,

,spring means for retaining each of said pen systems in a position in which the pen thereof is retracted into the casing, a bolt associated with each of said pen systems for pushing the respective pen system into the position in which the pen thereof protrudes from the casing, common stop means for the pen systems for holding, against the action of said spring means, either penv system in the position in which the pen thereof protrudes from the casing, when the respective pen system has been pushed into the said position, release means for rendering said stop means inoperative for the aforesaidpurpose, and common operating means for the said filling pins adjustable to be moved into coaction With either pen system or into a neutral position, said operating means including an element adapted to engage the filling pin of the pen system which is fully placed into the aforesaid position with the pen protruding from the casing.

2. In a fountain pen comprising at least two rpen systems f-or operation with separate ink reservoirs, in combination a casing open at the writing end and housing the pen systems, said pen systems being mounted axially displaceably in said casing, a locking sleeve movably disposed within said casing surrounding said pen systems, first spring means for keeping said locking sleeve stationary, said locking sleeve having at its rear end a slot for each pen system, each of said slots including a section slanted relative to the pen axis and ending in an enlargement, second spring means adapted to hold either of said pen systems in a position in which the pen thereof is retracted into the casing, a bolt associated with each of said pen systems for pushing the respective pen system into a'position in which the pen thereof protrudes from the casing, each bolt being adapted to be displaced in said slanted slot section and to rotate said locking sleeve against the action of said first spring means and to return the locking sleeve into its original stationary position upon the bolt reaching said slot enlargement, said locking sleeve retaining, against the action of the second spring means, the pen system that has been pushed into the position in which the pen thereof protrudes from the casing in the said position, release means for rendering the locking sleeve inoperative for the aforesaid purpose, a filling mechanism associated with each ink reservoir, and common operating means for said filling mechanisms, said operating means being adjustable so as to be movable into coaction with either pen system or into a neutral position and including an element adapted to engage the fllling mechanism of a pen system fully placed in the aforesaid position with the pen protruding from the casing.

3. In a fountain pen comprising at least two pen systems for operation with separate ink reservoirs, in combination a casing open at the Writing end housing the pen systems,'said pen systems being mounted axially displaceably in said casing, each system including a member forming a nib holder at the forward Writing end of the fountain pen and having a cavity therein for the reception of an ink sack, an ink sack in said cavity, said nib holder having a passage communicating with said cavity and ink in said sack, a at spring Within the casing, one end of said spring being bent up,'a strip movably fastened' to said spring and positioned alongside said ink sack placed in said cavity for compressing the said sack in response to pressure upon said bent-V up spring end, a filling pin associated with each ink sack, each of said pins cooperating with said bent-up spring end and mounted axially displaceably in a portionof the respective member positioned on the rear end side of said cavity, a dog within the casing arranged at the rear part of each filling pin, compression spring means acting on said dogs and bearing on said members, spring means for retaining each of said pen systems in a position in Which the pen thereof is retracted into the casing, a movable locking sleeve disposed Within said casing and housing said pen systems, spring means for retaining said locking sleeve in a stationary position, said locking sleeve having at its rear end a slot for each pen system, each of said slots including ka section slanted relative to the pen axis and ending in an enlargement, a bolt associated with each of said pen systems for pushing the respective pen system into a position in which the pen thereof protrudes from the casing, each bolt being adapted to be displacedv in the slanted slot section and to rotate the locking sleeve against the action of the spring means for retaining said looking sleeve in a fixed position and to permit return of the locking sleeve into the original stationary position against the action of the respective spring means upon said bolt entering said slot enlargement, common stop means for said pen systems for retaining, against the action of the respective spring means, the respective pen system pushed into the position in which the pen thereof protrudes from the casing in the said position, release means for rendering said stop means inoperative for the purpose aforesaid, and operating means common to the said filling pins and adjustable to be moved into coaction with either of said pen systems or into a neutral position, said operating means including an element adapted to engage the filling pin of a pen system -both placed in the position in which the pen thereof protrudes from the casing.

4. In a fountain pen comprising at least two pen systems for operation with separate ink reservoirs in combination a casing open at the Writing end housing the pen systems, said pen systems being mounted axially displaceably in said casing, each system including a member forming a nib holder at the forward Writing end of the fountain pen and having a cavity therein for the reception of an ink sack, an ink sack in said cavity, said nib holder having a passage communicating with said cavity and ink in said sack, a flat spring Within the casing, one end of said spring being bent up, a strip movably fastened to said spring and positioned alongside said ink sack placed in said cavity for compressing the said sack in response to pressure upon said bentup spring end, a filling pin associated with each ink sack, each of said pins cooperating with said bent-up spring end and mounted axially displaceably in a portion of the respective member positioned on the rear end side of said cavity, a dog Within the casing arranged at the rear part of each filling pin, a guide element Within the casing mounted at the rear end of each member, compression spring means acting on said dogs and bearing on said members, spring means for retaining each of said pen systems in a position in which the pen thereof is retracted into the casing, a bolt associated With each of said pen systems e; for pushing the respective pen system into the position inwhich the pen thereof protrudes from the casi-ng, common stop means for the pen systems for holding, against the action of said retaining spring means, either pen system inthe position in which the pen thereof protrudes from the casing when the respective pen system has been pushed into the said position, release means for rendering said stop means inoperative for the aforesaid purpose, a bearing bush disposed in the rear part of said casing, a pressing shank mounted axially dispiaceably and rotatably in said bush, a wing element mounted at the front part of said pressing shank and cooperating with said. filling pins, said wing element being positioned immediately behind the dog on the rear part of the lling. pin of a pen system pushed forwardly into the position in which the pen thereof protrudes from the casing, a pusher rigidly mounted at the end of the pressing shankv being adapted to enter either of said. apertures, the wing element and thelast mentioned pin being positioned so that in response to a rotation of the pusher and with itof the pressing shank. and the wing element into a position in which thelast` mentioned pin can enter one of said bush apertures said wing. element acts upon the dog of the pen system pushed into the position in which the pen thereof protrudes from the casing.

5.` A fountain pen as described in claim 4, wherein said compression spring means are fastened to said pusher for counteracting twisting of the same.

ROBERT BODER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Schnebbe June 9, 1908 Chesne Apr. 14, 1925 Hirth Jan. 24, 1939 Schulman Feb. 6, 1945 Number 

